The common airway diseases comprise asthma and chronic obstructive pulmona ry disease (cOPD). Pharmacologic treatment with inhaled corticosteroids is the mainstay of management in most patients with asthma. Inhaled bronchodilators are the foundation of pharmacotherapy for cOPD. This is because of their capacity to alleviate symptoms, decrease exacerbations of disease, and improve quality of life. In either condition, combination therapy with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists may be beneficial for more severe disease. Oral theophylline also has a significant role in obstructive airway disease. This article summarises the key pharmacologic agents that are useful in obstructive airway disease.